Diskless computer-to-remote storage server opeating system installation system and method

ABSTRACT

A diskless computer-to-remote storage server operating system installation system and method, which uses a boot firmware and a network storage driver to establish disk connection with a logic unit space, enabling the operating system installation program to recognize a disk device for installation. The boot firmware is in charge of fetching network parameters. The storage driver is in charge of providing the installation program with network device operating function. The system and method of the invention eliminates the procedure of establishing a physical hard drive for making an operating system image for transmitting to the logic unit space, preventing an operation error due to being unfamiliar with the installation procedure. By means of eliminating image file making procedure, the invention greatly lowers the chance of human error during system establishment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage sharing technology and moreparticularly, to a diskless computer-to-remote storage server operatingsystem installation system and method, which enables a diskless computerto install an operating system in a remote storage server.

2. Description of the Related Art

To a person in the information industry, it is a big burden to manage abig number of computer systems. Using diskless computers by means of acentralized storage control facilitates management of computer softwareand hardware and increases storage space utilization efficiency. Thedesign concept of this architecture is to remove the hard drive from thecomputer and to connect the computer to a remote server through thenetwork storage protocol for enabling the computer to obtain the desireddisk drive information from the remote server for its operating systemsubject to a network storage access technology. This network datastorage service is to share a block of storage space in the physicaldisk drive and to install the operating system related file in the blockof storage space for booting the diskless computer.

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a network storage sharing systemaccording to the prior art. According to this design, the networkstorage sharing system comprises a storage server 11, a networkcommunication device (such as switch, router, or hub) 12, a plurality ofdiskless computers 131˜133, and a network 14. The storage server 11 andthe diskless computers 131˜133 are connected to the networkcommunication device 12 by means of the network 14 so that the storageserver 11 and the diskless computers 131˜133 establish a networkcommunication protocol for transmitting and receiving data therebetween.The diskless computers 131˜133 transmit a SCSI over IP or SCSI over FCnetwork packet to storage server 11 for enabling the disk drive (notshown) to read or write disk data so that the storage server 11 sendsthe data or response through the network 14 to the diskless computerthat sent the request.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a diskless computer bootingtechnique according to the prior art. According to this design, disklesscomputers referenced by 21, 210 and 211 are regular computer systemseach comprising at least one microprocessor 22, a network interface 23,and a non-volatile memory 24. According to this design, each disklesscomputer does not have any hard disk drive, but uses a non-volatilememory 24 as a substitute. The non-volatile memory 24 has installedtherein a boot firmware 26. The boot firmware 26 comprises a networkstorage driver 27, a network protocol driver 28, and a network interfacedriver 29. When the power of the diskless computer 21 is started, theBIOS (basic input output system) of the computer reads the boot firmware26 from the non-volatile memory 24 and loads it to the main memory 25 ofthe computer for running. By means of the function of the boot firmware26, the diskless computers 21, 210 and 211 utilizes the microprocessor22 to run the boot firmware 26, thereby controlling the networkinterface 23 to establish connection with the storage server 213 throughthe network 212 during BIOS stage, so as to fetch data and operatingsystem image files 215 and 217 from the disk devices 214 and 216 forenabling BIOS to run the operating system files and finishing the workof booting the operating system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing the installation of an operatingsystem image according to the prior art. According to this method, thePC (personal computer), referenced by 31, is a regular computer systemconnected with a CD-ROM 34 and at least one hard drive 32. The CD-ROM 34is adapted for reading data from the operating system installation disk35 for booting the computer system. The hard drive 32 is a disk devicefor storing the operating system 33 a and other application programs 33b. After installation of the operating system, the PC 31 can utilize thehard drive 32 to boot the operating system 33 a and to run theapplication programs 33 b. For enabling diskless computers to boot theoperating system, at least one of the aforesaid PC 31 is necessary.Because diskless computers utilize a storage server 36 to obtain a diskdevice and the file of the necessary operating system, the storageserver 36 must have at least one disk image data pre-stored therein forbooting. According to a common conventional method, a network 310 isused to copy the file of the operating system from the hard drive 32 ofthe PC 31 to the disk device 37 of the storage server 36 by means of anupload program. The pre-configured logic space 39 in the disk device 37must correspond to the hard drive 32 so that all the disk data in thehard drive 32 can be completely copied to the logic spaces for furtheruse as an operating system boot image 38.

The operating system boot image 38 comprises the data of the operatingsystem core program, application program and user setting. Afterinstallation of the operating system in the hard drive 32, an uploadtool is necessary to transmit the file content from the hard drive 32 tothe logic space 39 in the network storage server. The data uploading canbe performed through a bus to copy disk space, or to copy the operatingsystem 33 a and application programs 33 b in the hard drive 32 to thelogic space 39 in the disk device 37 via the network 310. By means ofthe network 310, one diskless computer can be connected to the networkstorage device to fetch the network disk space and the operating systemprogram for starting the operating system or running applicationprograms. Managing diskless computer operating system and applicationprograms by means of disk image must upload the operating system 33 a tothe hard drive 32 to the network storage server 36. Therefore, thismethod requires a physical disk device 32 for the installation of theoperating system 33 a and application programs 33 b so that other toolmeans is used to copy the content of the disk device wholly to thenetwork logic space 39.

Further, managing an operating system by means of a disk imageencounters an image file maintenance problem. When an applicationprogram in the image file is to be modified, it is necessary to accessto the original physical disk device that provides the image file andthen to upload the new disk image after modification. This operationprocedure is quite different from a regular operating systeminstallation procedure. It brings troubles to a computer managementperson. An operating error may occur easily. In case of damage of dataduring image file uploading, operating system booting will not beachieved.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method of directly installing anoperating system in a network disk space during establishing of adiskless computer without through a data transfer or disk imageuploading procedure, eliminating human error.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. According to one aspect of the present invention, the disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installation systemand method, which has a boot firmware installed in a diskless computer.The boot firmware comprises a network storage program, a networkcommunication program and a network interface program. The boot firmwareis loaded onto the main memory of the computer, after power startup ofthe computer, to fetch network parameters from the non-volatile memoryor through the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). The firmwareactively connects the remote storage server to fetch the authorized diskdevice data. Thereafter, the computer keeps using the operating systeminstallation CD to boot the computer and to run the operating systeminstallation program carried on the CD.

According to another aspect, System determines whether or not theoperating system installation program has network access capability orsupports network protocol. If the installation program does not havenetwork access capability, the system automatically load a compatiblenetwork interface driver, network communication driver and networkstorage driver. The network interface driver enables the computer tocontrol the network controller. The network communication driverprovides the upper-layer communication protocol network connection andnetwork packet processing functions. The network storage driver is incharge of establishing connection to a network disk device and makingcommunication with the operating system installation program. After thedriver loading operation, the network storage driver establishesconnection with the remote storage server subject to the connection dataof the firmware, continuing the boot program control work. During thisstage, the boot firmware maintains remote storage server connection dataand connection capability for use during calling of the bottom-layerdisk device data by the operating system installation program. When thenetwork storage driver fetched disk device data from the remote storageserver, it reports to the operating system installation program forenabling the operating system installation program to recognize onephysical disk device. Thereafter, the operating system installationprogram directly formats the disk device and installs the operatingsystem file.

The invention effectively lowers the difficulty in establishing adiskless computer. By means of applying the same basic operating systeminstallation procedure, the user needs not to install a physical diskdevice and then to upload the content of the disk device onto the remotestorage server or to make an operating system image file, i.e., the usercan directly uses the operating system installation program to completea diskless computer operating system installation work. The method ofthe present invention provides a diskless computer with a reliablesystem establishment flow, preventing diskless computer booting failuredue to that the user made an erroneous operating system image because ofbeing not familiar with the making of a disk image file, or forgot toupload the operating system file. Therefore, the invention greatlyreduces the chance of operating error and simplifies the systemoperation procedure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a network storage sharing systemaccording to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a diskless computer bootingtechnique according to the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing the installation of an operatingsystem image according to the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the present invention showing theaction between the operating system installation program and the bootfirmware.

FIG. 6 is a system flow chart of the present invention

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the present invention, explaining the disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installationprocedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 4, a system for the installation of an operatingsystem from a diskless computer to a remote storage server in accordancewith the present invention is shown comprising a diskless computer 41, astorage server 411, and a network 410. The diskless computer 41 and thestorage server 411 are respectively connected to the network 410. Thenetwork 410 can be the Internet or a LAN (local area network). It is tobe understood that the present preferred embodiment comprises otherfunction units. To simplify the figures and related description, thearchitecture shows only the related components, other components such asprocessor, memory device, network switch, router, and/or other networkcontrollers of the diskless computer 41 and/or storage server 411 arenot shown. Further, two or more diskless computers may be used in thesystem. The configurations of the diskless computer 41 and the storageserver 411 are described hereinafter.

The storage server 411 is a computer server having data management anddata storage capability. The storage server 411 comprises at least oneprocessor and one main memory for running network 410 and disk controloperation. According to the present preferred embodiment, the storageserver 411 provides the diskless computer 41 with a disk device forbooting the operating system and running related application programs.Therefore, the storage server 411 comprises at least one logic unitspace 412 having installed therein the necessary operating system fileand data for booting the diskless computer 41. The logic unit space 412is the basic unit for identification of a respective disk space by meansof a logic unit number. The storage server 411 configures multiple logicunit spaces 412, and gives a respective logic unit number to each logicunit space 412. The diskless computer 41 uses the respective logic unitnumber to identify the relationship of the fetched disk device relativeto the storage server.

The diskless computer 41 can be the standard architecture of a standarddiskless computer or server, comprising at least one processor, oneinput device, one memory, and one network controller. The networkcontroller can be connected to a network switch or router to provide thediskless computer 41 with a network storage function. The disklesscomputer 41 has installed therein a boot firmware 46. The boot firmware46 normally stored in a non-volatile memory at the computer motherboard,or directly inserted into the BIOS (basic input output system), forexample, in the Boot ROM or PXE (Preboot Execution Environment). Theboot firmware 46 is characterized in that when starting up the computer,BIOS automatically loads the boot firmware 46 to the memory for running.The boot firmware 46 is capable of controlling the said networkcontroller to execute the related communication protocol during BIOSstage, for example, to fetch computer IP subject to DHCP (Dynamic HostConfiguration Protocol) or to connect to the authentication server foraccount authentication. Further, the diskless computer 41 reads in anoperating system installation program 42 from a VCD or DVD. Theoperating system installation program 42 is read and run by the inputdevice of the diskless computer 41 for use as tool means for enablingthe user to modify the setting of the operating system and to select thedesired storage device. According to the present preferred embodiment,Microsoft Windows and Linus operating system are applied. Further, theinstallation program includes WinPE (Windows PreinstallationEnvironment).

The aforesaid boot firmware 46 has a network access characteristic forenabling the operating system installation program 42 to directlyinstall the operating system file in the remote storage server 411. Inactual practice, when the power of the diskless computer 41 is startedup, BIOS fetches the boot firmware 46 from the non-volatile memory, andloads it to the memory of the diskless computer 41. The boot firmware 46includes three main subprograms, i.e., the network storage program 47,the network communication program 48 and the network interface program49. The network storage program 47 provides a function for the handlingof the upper layer network storage communication protocol, for example,authentication of the connection between the diskless computer 41 andthe storage server 411 and related data exchange. According to thepresent preferred embodiment, iSCSI (Internet Small Computer SystemsInterface is employed for the network storage program 47. By means ofthe network storage program 47, the diskless computer 41 is connectedwith the storage server 411. The network communication program 48 is incharge of packet exchange work in the network layer, such asestablishment, division, combination of network packets and maintenanceof network connection subject to, for example, TCP/IP networkcommunication protocol. The network communication program 48 receivesnetwork request from the network storage program 47, and transfers therequest to the lower layer of the network interface program 49 forconversion into a network packet for transmission to the physical layerof the network 410. The network interface program 49 is a programcapable of controlling the network controller, for example, Ethernetcontroller. The network interface program 49 is in charge of receivingand transmitting network packets. When the network controller of thediskless computer 41 receives a packet, the network interface program 49fetches the packet from the buffer of the memory for processing, andthen transmits the packet to the network communication program 48 afterthe network packet processing process has been done.

The aforesaid operating system installation program 42 is read into thememory by the input device for running. The input device can be aCD-ROM, network disk, or mobile disk. The operating system installationprogram 42 checks computer peripheral apparatus at first, and then loadsthe related drivers. The related drivers can be fetched from CD-ROM,floppy disk drive, external storage means, or network disk. Theoperating system installation program 42 includes three mainsubprograms, i.e., the network storage driver 43, the networkcommunication driver 44 and the network interface driver 45. Accordingto the present invention, the operating system installation program 42may not have a network control function. Therefore, the disklesscomputer 41 must determine whether or not the operating systeminstallation program 42 has a network communication function. Thenetwork interface driver 45 is in charge of the control of the networkcontroller of the diskless computer 41. The network interface driver 45provides the diskless computer 41 with network receiving andtransmitting functions. The network communication driver 44 provides thediskless computer 41 with a network communication protocol handlingfunction, including the function of proposing network communicationprotocol stack, such as, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), UDP (UserDiagram Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol) and ARP (Address ResolutionProtocol). The network storage driver 43 is a program for communicationwith the remote storage server 411. The network storage driver 43provides the diskless computer 41 with the function of fetching the dataof the logic unit space 412 of the remote storage server 411 and givinga command to the logic unit space 412, and can communicate with theoperating system installation program 42 to provide the operating systeminstallation program 42 with a physical logic unit space 412.

With respect to the communication between the aforesaid operating systeminstallation program and boot firmware to obtain network parameters,please refer to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of thepresent invention showing the action between the operating systeminstallation program and the boot firmware. As illustrated, the disklesscomputer 41 comprises a memory 53, and has installed therein a bootfirmware 46 and also has fetched an operating system installationprogram 42 (from a VCD or DVD through an input device of the disklesscomputer 41). The operating system installation program 42 includes anetwork storage driver 43 for the handling of a network storagecommunication protocol. The boot firmware 46 includes a boot firmwaretable 52 for storing network parameters (such as the parameters of theIP address of the remote storage server 411 and the logic unit space412). The boot firmware table 52 is recorded in the memory 53 of thediskless computer 41. The memory 53 can be the internal main memory ofthe diskless computer 41 or an external memory device connected to thediskless computer 41, having registered therein a disk interrupt vector51.

After power startup of the diskless computer 41, BIOS loads theaforesaid boot firmware 46 to the memory 53 for running, enabling theboot firmware 46 to establish connection with the remote storage server411 through the network 410 and to store the related network parametersin the firmware table 52 that is stored in the memory 53 of the disklesscomputer 41. Thereafter, the boot firmware 46 registers a disk interruptvector 51 in the memory 53 of the diskless computer 41. According tothis preferred embodiment, the interrupt vector is INT 13H. Afterregistration of the disk interrupt vector 51, the boot firmware 46 isready for operation. Thereafter, when the operating system installationprogram 42 started up the computer, the network storage driver 43fetches the network parameters of the remote storage server 411 from theboot firmware table 52 provided by the boot firmware 46, and uses thenetwork parameters to connect to the remote storage server 411. Theoperating system installation program 42 uses the disk interruptionvector 51 to call the boot firmware 46 subject to the system designdemand, thereby obtaining disk bottom layer data. At this time, the bootfirmware 46 responds subject to the data fetched. Alternatively, therelated disk data may be fetched from the remote storage server 411through the network 410, and then a response is given to the operatingsystem installation program 42.

FIG. 6 is a system flow chart of the present invention in which thediskless computer and the remote storage server are respectivelyconnected to the network. The storage server has a logic unit space. Thediskless computer has stored therein a boot firmware table. The disklesscomputer further comprises a network controller. The method for theinstallation of an operating system from the diskless computer to theremote storage server installation method includes the steps of:

-   (61) Start up the power of the diskless computer;-   (62) Bios of the diskless computer fetches the boot firmware from    the non-volatile memory of the diskless computer and loads the boot    firmware to the main memory;-   (63) The boot firmware controls the network controller through the    network interface program to establish network connection subject to    the network communication program so that the boot firmware fetches    the network parameters from the non-volatile memory or from DHCP    server by means of DHCP communication protocol for enabling the    network storage program and the logic unit space to establish    connection to the network;-   (64) The boot firmware records the network parameters in the boot    firmware table and registers an interrupt vector;-   (65) The boot firmware fetches at least one authorized logic disk    unit from the logic unit space, and the diskless computer utilizes    an input device, for example, CD-ROM to start up the diskless    computer just because the logic unit space does not have an    operating system file for booting the diskless computer;-   (66) Load the operating system installation program to the main    memory of the diskless computer and run the operating system    installation program;-   (67) System determines whether or not the operating system    installation program has network access capability or supports    network protocol, and then proceeds to step (68) when negative, or    directly proceeds to step (610) when positive;-   (68) Load the network interface driver to control the network    controller of the diskless computer;-   (69) Load the network communication driver to propose network    communication protocol stack;-   (610) Load the network storage driver to provide the operating    system installation program with disk data and disk operation    processing capability subject to, for example, iSCSI communication    protocol;-   (611) Establish connection to the logic unit space subject to the    setting of the boot firmware wherein boot firmware network    parameters are obtained subject to iBFT (iSCSI Boot Firmware Table    defined by ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface);-   (612) The operating system installation program obtains a physical    disk device after connection of the network storage driver to the    logic unit space, and then starts to format the disk device and to    install the operating system file;-   (613) The operating system installation work is done, and the flow    is ended.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the present invention, explaining the disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installationprocedure in which the diskless computer comprises a memory; the remotestorage server comprises a logic unit space; the diskless computer andthe remote storage server are respectively connected to a network. Themethod (procedure) includes the steps of:

Providing a boot firmware to the diskless computer for fetching networkparameters including logic unit space parameter of the remote storageserver for connection to the remote storage server and enabling the bootfirmware to record the fetched network parameters in the memory of thediskless computer and to register an interrupt vector in the memory ofthe diskless computer; and

Providing an operating system installation program for reading on thediskless computer so that the operating system installation programcalls the interrupt vector to fetch the logic unit space parameter forenabling the boot firmware to respond to the interrupt request and theoperating system installation program to start up the diskless computerand to install the operating system in the logic unit space of theremote storage server.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A diskless computer-to-remote storage server operating systeminstallation method for enabling a diskless computer to install anoperating system in a remote storage server, said diskless computercomprising a memory, said remote storage server comprising a logic unitspace, said diskless computer and said remote storage server beingrespectively connected to a network, diskless computer-to-remote storageserver operating system installation method comprising the steps of: (a)Providing a boot firmware to said diskless computer for fetching networkparameters including the logic unit space parameter of said remotestorage server for connection to said remote storage server and enablingsaid boot firmware to record the fetched network parameters in thememory of said diskless computer and to register an interrupt vector inthe memory of said diskless computer; and (b) Providing an operatingsystem installation program for reading on said diskless computer sothat said operating system installation program calls said interruptvector to fetch said logic unit space parameter for enabling said bootfirmware to respond to the interrupt request and for enabling saidoperating system installation program to start up said diskless computerand to install said operating system in said logic unit space of saidremote storage server.
 2. The diskless computer-to-remote storage serveroperating system installation method as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidboot firmware is in charge of responding to the interrupt vector calledby said operating system installation program.
 3. The disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installation methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein said boot firmware comprises a bootfirmware table recorded in the memory of said diskless computer forstoring network parameters.
 4. The diskless computer-to-remote storageserver operating system installation method as claimed in claim 1,wherein said operating system installation program comprises a networkstorage driver for enabling said diskless computer to fetch the logicunit space data of said remote storage server, to give a command to thelogic unit space, and to provide the operating system installationprogram with a physical logic unit space.
 5. The disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installation methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating system installationprogram comprises a network storage driver, a network communicationdriver and a network interface driver, said network interface driverenabling said diskless computer to receive and transmit data throughsaid network, said network communication driver providing said disklesscomputer with a communication protocol management function, said networkstorage driver enabling said diskless computer to obtain the logic unitspace data from said remote storage server and to give a command to saidlogic unit space and providing said operating system installationprogram with a physical logic unit space.
 6. The disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installation methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein said boot firmware comprises a networkstorage program, a network communication program and a network interfaceprogram, said network storage program providing an upper-layer networkstorage communication protocol processing function, said networkcommunication program being in charge of the network layer packetexchanging work, said network interface program being in charge ofnetwork packet receiving and transmitting works.
 7. The disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installation methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory of said diskless computer isthe internal main memory of said diskless computer.
 8. The disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installation methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory of said diskless computer isan external memory connected to said diskless computer.
 9. A disklesscomputer-to-remote storage server operating system installation systemcomprising a diskless computer, a storage server, and a network, saiddiskless computer and said storage server being respectively connectedto said network, wherein said storage server comprises at least onelogic unit space; said diskless computer comprises a memory, a bootfirmware installed therein and an operating system installation programfetched from an external source, said boot firmware being adapted forrecording in said memory network parameters for connection to saidstorage server and registering an interrupt vector in said memory, saidnetwork parameters including a logic unit space parameter, saidoperating system installation program comprising a network storagedriver, said network storage driver being adapted for calling saidinterrupt vector to fetch said logic unit space parameter, saidoperating system installation program being to start up said disklesscomputer, said logic unit space being adapted for enabling saidoperating system installation program to install said operating systemin said logic unit space.
 10. The diskless computer-to-remote storageserver operating system installation system as claimed in claim 9,wherein said boot firmware comprises a network storage program, anetwork communication program and a network interface program, saidnetwork storage program providing an upper-layer network storagecommunication protocol processing function, said network communicationprogram being in charge of the network layer packet exchange work, saidnetwork interface program being in charge of network packet receivingand transmitting works.
 11. The diskless computer-to-remote storageserver operating system installation system as claimed in claim 9,wherein said memory of said diskless computer is the internal mainmemory of said diskless computer.
 12. The diskless computer-to-remotestorage server operating system installation system as claimed in claim9, wherein the memory of said diskless computer is an external memoryconnected to said diskless computer.
 13. The diskless computer-to-remotestorage server operating system installation system as claimed in claim9, wherein said operating system installation program further comprisesa network communication driver and a network interface driver, saidnetwork interface driver enabling said diskless computer to receive andtransmit data through said network, said network communication driverproviding said diskless computer with a network communication protocolprocessing function.